having just had the car serviced and the cam cover gaskets replaced I now have a large leak. It drips slightly overnight but increases with engine temperature and ends up with oil smoke out the bonnet! Its at the very bottom of the engine, possibly from the crank case cover or oil pump seal or water pump seal??? i have a MY96 WRX import - anyone had this before - how much to rectify?

 

The clue could be in the service. I had the same, and it was the filter not tight enough. They replaced it, topped me up, and no prob.
Alcazar

 

Sounds like who ever did your gaskets didn't get the right torque settings, take it back to them, also did they replace the little rubber things on the bolts, as these also form a seal as well as the gasket.
Cheers.
Ian.

 

Its not coming from the filter or the cam cover gaskets.. colin stone (local scooby owner) has had a look unerneath and says it looks like the seal for the aluminium bit and the plastic crank case cover.. ...

 

If it wasn't happening before the service.....take it back...and give them an earful.... who did it?

 

Mine is doing the same, and im covinced its the front crank shaft oil seal... its going in on wednesday to get it looked at..

Dan

 

same problem mate, crankshaft oil seal, booked in for repair in two weeks time, reckon it will take two days to repair due to various components that have to be removed for the job including sump pan an all, apparently the timing belt has to be removed and belt tensioner which often leaks oil when removed so may have to be replaced as well, very costly, still awaiting my quote but it aint going to be cheap.

 

Chris,

My timing tensioner was gubbed when I had my belt replaced last year. Cost around £100 plus VAT IIRC.

 

Thanks for your posts, have driven it for 2 days since and no leak (yes there is oil in it - check every morning) - suggestion i've had is the breather pipe could have been blocked and by 'fiddling' around its cleared itself...?

 

The sump does not have to be removed for pretty much any job, unless you are actually completely stripping the engine, and certainly not to replace a crank oil seal. Timing belt tensioners do not leak oil. Older ones do last a very long time, but the later Post 98 tensioners do seem to go faulty quite often, and can need replaced if the timing belt is being removed/changed, which would be the case when renewing a crank oil seal.

 

still no leak......

 

MY95 WRX

Sorry Stevie but the belt tensioners do leak oil (hydraulic oil seals fail). This is a common fault with the tensioners and I had to have mines renewed following the cars 1st belt change. The chap at the garage also told me this is very common.

PS - I was there when it was removed and it was weeping oil

[Edited by caz1562 - 9/25/2002 10:50:48 AM]